As he faces Kentucky-or-NBA decision, Oscar Tshiebwe says, ‘I love being here’
Oscar Tshiebwe delivered the keynote address at the 54th annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday. He did not mention his status as the key figure in Kentucky basketball’s annual enactment of a 1981 song by The Clash: “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”
As the title of the breakfast suggested, spiritual faith brought an audience of about 500 inside a tent on the south lawn of the Kentucky State Capitol.
While Tshiebwe did not stray from his personal testimony during a 23-minute talk, Gov. Andy Beshear alluded to the highly decorated UK player having to decide whether to enter this year’s NBA Draft, merely go through the pre-draft process or simply announce he will play again for Kentucky next season.
“I hear he has a few choices to make,” Beshear told the audience, which chuckled knowingly.
After thanking Tshiebwe for participating in the Prayer Breakfast, Beshear said that he and fellow Kentuckians would support whatever decision Tshiebwe makes facing the UK-or-NBA fork in his basketball road.
Tshiebwe is projected by most as a second-round pick in this summer’s NBA Draft. He has until April 24 to declare for the draft and until June 1 to withdraw.
After the Prayer Breakfast, UK said that Tshiebwe did not want to speak to the media.
A moment in Tshiebwe’s talk to the audience made it logical to conclude that his UK-or-NBA decision will not be based on money.
His late father, Mbuyi Tshiebwe, was a minister. Tshiebwe recalled asking his father what God wants from people. His father said that God wanted people to be rich in faith, love, hope, confidence, peace and courage.
The audience laughed when Tshiebwe said he asked his father, “We’re broke. Why does God not give you some money?”
His father replied, “Man, you never chase that,” Tshiebwe said.
Tshiebwe said Matthew 6:33 was foundational in his outlook. Its take on material possessions is: “Seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”
As he did repeatedly during the 2021-22 season, Tshiebwe all but gushed about the experience of playing for Kentucky.
“I love being here,” he told the audience, which included former UK player Jarrod Polson. “To be part of Kentucky is a dream come true for me.”
Tshiebwe grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He came to the United States to play high school basketball. He recalled arriving on a plane in New York. He did not have a winter coat. He did not speak English. He tried to find somebody who spoke French.
Tshiebwe recalled advice his mother gave: “When you don’t understand anything people say, smile all the time.” The audience laughed.
He got a taxi driver to understand he was hungry. The driver asked if he preferred steak or chicken. Tshiebwe preferred chicken.
The audience laughed and applauded when Tshiebwe said, “He took me to Kentucky Fried Chicken.”
Tshiebwe said playing two seasons for West Virginia after high school was a mistake. He said he “listened to the wrong people. I was not really happy.
“This is the place I always wanted to be.”
Of course, Tshiebwe practically rewrote Kentucky’s record book this season. The result was being the program’s first player to win every National Player of the Year award.
When being introduced as a “gentle giant,” Tshiebwe offered a good-natured correction. “Off the court,” he said as the audience applauded.
His on-court feats prompted a question.
“Some of my teammates (asked) why do you always do so good?” he said as chuckles filled the tent.
Tshiebwe’s reply?
“Can somebody stop God?” he said. “Of course not. I say we’re created in the image of God. . . . If you use the power of God, nobody can stop you. . . .
“I cannot be stopped. As my daddy used to tell me, you’ve got to fly like an eagle. Don’t fly like a little bird.”
Overcoming adversity
Overcoming adversity was a theme of the Prayer Breakfast. Beshear noted that Kentuckians had dealt with the coronavirus, the tornadoes that devastated portions of western Kentucky last December and now supported Ukraine as it defended itself against Russian aggression.
The governor spoke of the power of unity. In noting the spiritual advice to love your neighbor as you love yourself, he noted the absence of the word “unless.”
There should be no exception if people disagree on issues or are in different political parties, or races or sexual orientations, he said.
